Universal Transit Farecard Standards (UTFS)Task Force

Tom Parker (TF Chair), BART

Greg Garback (Spec Ind Liaison), WMATA

Rick Barrett (Fin Mgmt Vice-Chair), Quattran

Dave Phelps, APTA

Chung Chung Tam (fin Mgmt Chair), CTA

Tom Peacock, APTA

Joe Simonetti (Fare Media Vice-Chair), Metavante

Leisa Moniz, Volpe

Carol Wise (Ops Chair), COTA

Tim Weisenberger, Volpe

No Update to IP Policy

Tam stated a concern regarding the process of submission of the Systems WG update/scope/milestones letter and the merging of this action item and the action item from the Aug 4 IP Policy meeting of meeting minutes and explanation of IP issues.

Tom Parker directed that these two items be kept separate and the process of submission of the Systems WG letter be from systems WG leaders to Fin Mgmt leaders to TF leader.

Dave and Tom Parker reported:

No IP Policy update to report.

Tam brought up a concern that there is a push in the Systems WG to finalize the official letter that would update the deliverables that the Systems WG will complete, a schedule of milestones for them, and the impact on the original technical work scope.

The leaders of the group are attempting to hold a teleconference, but Tam and Rick have been unable to attend at the times proposed. The reason for the immediate need of the teleconference is that the Systems WG co-lead, David DeKozan feels that a deadline he was given for a action item to submit minutes and explanation of IP issues be submitted to APTA by Sep 16.

Tam sees that the process for submission of this letter is that the System WG leaders submit this letter to Fin Mgmt Committee leaders (he and Rick) and then Tam submits to Tom Parker. It was not intended that the Sys WG leaders submit the letter directly to Tom. The draft letter that was given to Tom on Aug 4 was not done so appropriately and did not follow the correct process.

Additionally, the action item of a discussion of IP issues that was assigned as an output of the IP Policy meeting on Aug 4 has been combined with the action item of the Systems WG update/scope/milestones letter.

Tam recommended that Tom official direct that these are two distinct action items. Tom agreed and directed Tam to direct the Systems WG leaders to hold off on the call until Fin Mgmt leaders could participate and to consider the items two distinct items. APTA representatives agreed to this course of action.

The result was to create a presentation that includes:

• Off-line IP Policy discussion with Tom Margro prior to the committee meeting
• 1-slide deliverable matrix
• Discuss Spec. Ind. Liaison outreach efforts and international efforts
• Strategy for program next steps including the strategy for taping into new APTA funding ($750k) for standards development
• Concerns including IP policy and scope issues

Action Items:

Tim W.- Draft a presentation and submit to Tom Parker

Tom Parker/APTA- Conversation with Tom Margro regarding IP Policy

Tim opened the discussion by stating that he felt the group needed to discuss the strategy for the presentation to the Rail CEOs committee on Oct 10 in Atlanta. This is especially important in light of the lack of movement on the IP Policy.

The group discussed the goals of the presentation and determined the content at a high level. The result was to create a presentation that includes:

• Tom Parker and APTA will have an off-line IP Policy discussion with Tom Margro prior to the committee meeting
• Emphasis on the schedule of the documents in development- Tim will create a 1-slide matrix delineating draft date, approval process and schedule goals
• Discuss Spec. Ind. Liaison outreach efforts including IAB, SCA, Visa/M/C/Amex and the international efforts with CEN and ISO
• Strategy for program next steps including the strategy for taping into new APTA funding ($750k) for standards development
• Concerns including IP policy and scope issues

The group discussed the following UTFS activities at the 2005 FCW are:

1. A ½-day training session to discuss the practical use of the spec- Time TBD
2. UTFS presentation in a Standards panel session during the general workshop sessions

Also discussed the inclusion of a UTFS article in the November RMC Newsletter

A FCW planning meeting will be held in Oakland on Oct 26.

ACTION ITEM: Tim, Joe and Tam will have a teleconference ASAP to discuss FCW planning.

Tim asked for an update on the UTFS activities discussed on the FCW teleconference.

Tom reported that he did not attend the call. Joe stated that they discussed a UTFS presentation during a standards panel during the conference. Paula Faust will host this session. Joe asked if the group could give examples of what the leaders would like to cover in the presentation. Joe covered the preliminary schedule:

Sunday- RMC and Steering Committee meetings in PM, but the morning is open.

Monday- AFC101 Training. AFC102 course content open, but AFC data collection/ management was discussed as a possible topic. 4:30-6:00PM open

Tuesday-Wed Noon- conference session

Wed PM- Technical tours

Thursday- AM committee meetings, PM open

Additionally, Joe noted that the first RMS newsletter will be published in November and there will be a UTFS article planned.

Tim asked if we could use the AFC102 training to cover the UTFS card spec that would be published at that point. The group also discussed that Sunday activities have not worked out well in the past.

Tim, Joe and Tam took on the action of discussing the UTFS activities at the FCW on a teleconference ASAP.

Joe stated that there would be a FCW planning meeting in Oakland on Oct 26.

Next Committee meeting is Monday, Sep 20

Committee hopes to approve the "Farecard Procurement Procedures" for submission to Task Force review and ballot.

The Magnetics WG approved the Magnetic Stripe Instrument Guideline. The Committee will review on the Sep 20 call and hopefully submit to Committee ballot.

Tim and Joe reported:

Next Fare Media Committee call is Monday, Sep 20. The group hopes to approve the Farecard Procurement Procedures document for submission to Task Force review and ballot.

The Magnetic Fare Media WG finally achieved a quorum and voted to approve the Magnetic Stripe Instrument Guideline and submit to the committee for review and ballot. The committee hopes to approve for a ballot on the Sep 20 call.

Tom Peacock asked if there was a way to streamline the document approval process. After discussion, the group saw that the only way to fast track the document is to limit the review and ballot periods. Normal procedure has been a 30-day ballot period.

The RFP committee selected LTK Engineering Services to perform the Operations contract. The entire scope of the RFP will be completed.

It will take APTA 2 weeks to award the contract.

Carol Reported:

The RFP committee selected LTK Engineering Services to perform the Operations contract. The contract is for $40k and 24 weeks. The three tasks are:

1. AFC Strategic Plan
2. Examination of Needs
3. Equipment Review

The entire scope of the RFP will be completed. APTA will take 2 weeks to award the contract

CEN IFMS document workshop and WP4 meeting to be held Sep 21-22 at Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA.

Rick B. conducting final review of the Business Issues document to be completed Sep 24.

Work Package Updates:

WP1- will send their spec to a Committee ballot approximately Oct 15.

WP2- Still TBD. Calendar 05 endeavor.

WP3- is still on schedule for a Dec 04 completion.

WP4- The functional description document is nearly finalized. The Systems Interface document in planning stage and a Sub-group will report on progress on Sep 22.

Tam reported:

There will be a CEN workshop and a WP4 meeting Sep 21-22 at Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA. The workshop topic is the CEN IFMS document. WP4 discussion will include the BAH report that includes the RIS Part 4.

Rick B. stated that he is doing a final review of the Business Issues document to be completed COB Sep 24.

Work Package Activities:

WP1 progressing, document to be submitted to Fin Mgmt Committee Oct 15

WP2- Scope still TBD. This will be a Calendar 05 endeavor.

WP3 is still on schedule for a Dec 04 completion.

WP4

The functional description document is nearly finalized. The Systems Interface document in planning stage and a Sub-group will report on progress on Sep 22.

Outreach activities:

Amex meeting was successful. Learned about the ExpressPay contactless payment scheme.

Amex is keen to participate in UTFS. Suggested areas were WP2 and potentially WP3 if they move on to developing a security spec, and WP4 back end interface work.

ACTION ITEM: Tim will develop draft UTFS presentation for the Oct 18 SCA annual meeting.

Greg reported:

Had a very successful meeting with the Amex New Technology Group. Topics included the ExpressPay contactless payment scheme. They are keenly interested in the success of transit and particularly on the progress towards standards. They would like to work with UTFS.

Greg asked the group where they felt Amex could fit in. Suggestions were in Operations Committee, and in the WP2 work on the card-reader-system interfaces. Rick suggested that the systems WG is fairly far along, but WP2 hasn’t started. Tim suggested that security specs, if the program develops them and the back end interface being developed in WP4 might be good areas of mutual interest.

Greg stated that we should look forward to the Q1/Q2 05 timeframe for holding an educational forum.

Tom Parker will give a high-level UTFS presentation at the Smart Card Alliance annual meeting will be held Oct 18-20 in San Francisco.

Tim W. has the action of developing a draft of this presentation ASAP.